Marijuana march planned Saturday in Col. Falls

Medical marijuana supporters hope to raise awareness of issues surrounding cannabis when they converge on Columbia Falls Saturday afternoon for a march along Nucleus Avenue.

Proponents will gather at the north end of Nucleus at 1 p.m. and use the sidewalks to make their way south to U.S. 2, then continue to Sixth Avenue West before disbanding.

The march is not expected to interfere with normal traffic flow.

It will be a silent march but participants will carry signs as they walk along the route. No rally or public gathering is planned in Columbia Falls to accompany the march.

Police Chief Dave Perry said organizers Dan Decker and Christopher Decker told him they expect 300 people to join in the march. A similar event has been held in Missoula over recent years, Perry said.

The chief said he expects no problems for the normal two-officer shift that afternoon.

“They’re fine,” Perry said of the anticipated marchers. “All they’re going to do is walk down the street and express their opinion.”

According to a story in the Hungry Horse News, the march is part of the 2010 Worldwide Marijuana March, an event held in more than 300 cities around the world to promote the legalization of marijuana.